Click on a thumbnail picture below to see the full size version. 205 Entries. Sunday, January 27 View Page Photo inside the tunnel. Not a great deal going on here yet   Sunday, January 27 View Page Not much going down in the marrow patch either, yes the marrow patch not the outdoor marrow patch anymore. After the disastrous season losing all of my poly tunnel grown marrows to splits last year I've decided to just stick with 10 marrow plants outside so yes that means I'll have room to grow 4 pumpkin plants again this year. Looking forward to having a go at growing a pumpkin again last year after a little break   Sunday, January 27 View Page Had to make a little repair job as one of the hoops had started to go thru the plastic. Dad had the idea of over lapping the area with another with another piece of sheet but time will tell how long it will last. Worth a try though even if it only lasts another year   Saturday, March 16 View Page I've put a couple of lines of early potatoes in the poly tunnel, one on each side. Hopefully they will be all gone before the pumpkins require the space. I had the rotovator in here before I planted the potatoes so the manure is nicely worked in to the soil now.   Saturday, March 16 View Page We've been doing a bit of deer stalking, this was the result of a successful stalk.   Saturday, March 16 View Page I took my friend Alex out and he took his first stag. He was very pleased   Tuesday, March 26 View Page The potatoes are moving along nicely.   Friday, April 5 View Page I'm going to try growing a few different things this year, these are the chits I removed from a giant potato which Clive bevan gave me at Malvern last year thank you Clive!   Friday, April 5 View Page And these are some from sebastian, cheers sebas!   Friday, April 5 View Page This is a new one on me but the idea is to plant single chits to try to minimise the amount of potatoes per plant.   Friday, April 5 View Page I plan to start them off in pots and then plant them outside in the garden later on. I'm not going to fanny about with them too much, I'll just plonk them out in a row with the regular potatoes and hope for the best!   Friday, April 12 View Page I got the propagators warming up this evening, my seeds will go direct in to these 3 litre pots tomorrow morning after a quick soak. No bag method here, it's never worked well for me. Just straight in to warm compost.   Saturday, April 13 View Page My line up for this year, starting 12 seeds. Need 8 plants, 4 main plants and 4 back ups. Thanks to everyone that sent me seeds!   Wednesday, April 17 View Page My seeds have germinated well, 11 out of 12 up so far.   Sunday, April 21 View Page My plants are coming along nicely, enjoying the sun   Sunday, April 21 View Page Ellie wanted to water them   Sunday, April 21 View Page The potatoes are moving a long nicely. Did get touched by frost a few weeks ago but growing out of it now   Sunday, April 21 View Page And the kondor potatoes are just starting to come up. Leaving these outside unless we get cold nights forecast as don't want the haulm to get drawn up too much as these will be planted outside.   Monday, April 22 View Page Planted the pumpkins out this evening, it was tough deciding what to go with but here is my line up. 2433 paton   Monday, April 22 View Page 2255 eddie   Monday, April 22 View Page 2166 cutrupi   Monday, April 22 View Page And 1867 biermans   Monday, April 22 View Page The 2433 and 2255 and there back ups. These two are going to grow back to back   Wednesday, May 1 View Page The potatoes were starting to get a little pot bound,   Wednesday, May 1 View Page So I planted them outside, each of these are growing from single stems so hopefully this will go some ways to reducing the number of potatoes per plant.   Wednesday, May 1 View Page Job done, I'll have a second line to go out in a week or so which are a little behind these   Wednesday, May 1 View Page The pumpkin plants are doing OK, a little yellowish at the moment but they should soon green up with a bit more sun. Here is the 2255   Wednesday, May 8 View Page 2166 plant   Wednesday, May 8 View Page 2255   Wednesday, May 8 View Page 2433   Wednesday, May 8 View Page Ans finally the 1867 plant.   Wednesday, May 8 View Page We started on the new potatoes last weekend.   Wednesday, May 15 View Page Put some shading up   Tuesday, May 21 View Page Time to start taking my mini poly tunnels down so no more heat at night. 2255 on the left and 2433 on the right. These are my best two plants at the moment.   Tuesday, May 21 View Page The 2166   Tuesday, May 21 View Page And the 1867.   Saturday, June 1 View Page Today I've started the following seeds, Marrow - 220 Baggs, 165 Baggs Cucumbers - Thomas, Glazebrook Canteloupe - Vester, Thomas Tomatoes - Schenk, Karkos, Weisli Runner beans - Handrhan cook, Schenk, Teichman. Many thanks to the people who helped me with seeds   Sunday, June 2 View Page Plants are doing OK, first side vines were a little slow to start moving on some of the plants this year but are starting to go now. 2433 plant   Sunday, June 2 View Page 2255   Sunday, June 2 View Page 2166 has been the slowest grower so far   Sunday, June 2 View Page 1867 has been the slowest to grow side vines so fsr   Sunday, June 2 View Page Nice sized leaves on the 2433   Sunday, June 2 View Page Kondors are looking OK.   Monday, June 3 View Page Ellie with the 2255   Monday, June 3 View Page Time to prep the marrow patch, first i dragged this thing through the patch a few times to loosen the soil nice and deep   Monday, June 3 View Page I'm probably down about 18 inches, needed the weight of the dumper tyre to get it down   Monday, June 3 View Page Then I went over it a couple of times with this old rotavator   Monday, June 3 View Page And now I have a nice seed bed, this is how I prepared this plot last year.   Monday, June 10 View Page Plants are looking OK here, 2433   Monday, June 10 View Page 2255   Monday, June 10 View Page 2166 has a little catching up to do   Monday, June 10 View Page And 1867 which is beginning to fill out a bit after a slow start   Monday, June 10 View Page 100% germination on Marrows this year, 16 x 165 8 x 220   Monday, June 10 View Page Good germination on cucumbers and cantelope too, I think I only had one faliure   Monday, June 10 View Page I've about 50% germination on tomatoes so far, I'm not used to growing things that are so puny!!   Friday, June 14 View Page I didn't realise at the time but the Marrows weren't the only things I was pollenating last season, we now have another little man in our family.   Friday, June 14 View Page Jack was happy to hold his little brother for the first time but little bro weren't as pleased   Friday, June 14 View Page Ellie must be a natural. Now we just need to decide on a name.   Saturday, June 15 View Page 2255 x self at 15ft ish.   Sunday, June 16 View Page This afternoon I planted out the giant marrow plants 165 x 7 220 x 3   Tuesday, June 18 View Page 2433 x 2255 at 15ft ish   Wednesday, June 19 View Page 1867 x 2433 again at around 15ft   Friday, June 21 View Page Plants are doing OK here, were a week or so behind other years I think which is probably down to the weather but the plants look fine. Here is the 2433   Friday, June 21 View Page 2255   Friday, June 21 View Page 2166 is still a little behind the others but it's a nice compact little plant   Friday, June 21 View Page 1867   Friday, June 21 View Page Marrow plants are ok   Friday, June 21 View Page Got some netting over them this year which should help protect from wind/sun   Friday, June 21 View Page Kondor potatoes are doing there own thing   Friday, June 21 View Page Runner beans are in this little tunnel   Friday, June 21 View Page Going to try to make the rhubarb giant   Friday, June 21 View Page Thomas cucumbers   Friday, June 21 View Page Glazebrook cucumbers   Friday, June 21 View Page Various tomato plants in the middle   Friday, June 21 View Page Going to try to grow one cucumber plant in the soil like I would a pumpkin/marrow   Friday, June 21 View Page And I'll do the same with one of the cantelopes. So I've plenty to do!   Saturday, June 22 View Page 2166 x open. I didn't think this one would open today. She had a threesome with the 2433 and the 2255 this morning and I've left the flower open hoping for further pollenation by bees.   Sunday, June 30 View Page A quick update on the pumpkins, 2433 plant   Sunday, June 30 View Page 2433 fruit is at day 12 and a lovely shape   Sunday, June 30 View Page 2255 plant   Sunday, June 30 View Page 2255 fruit at day 15. The shape is OK but not as good as the Paton however I think it will be a nice colour   Sunday, June 30 View Page 2166 plant   Sunday, June 30 View Page 2166 fruit. I'm not sure about this one, all the female flowers have such short stems. I've another flower to open on this plant tomorrow and I've terminated the main right after the flower. If I need to go with that one then I won't have issues with stem stress   Sunday, June 30 View Page 1867 plant is coming along nicely   Sunday, June 30 View Page 1867 fruit at day 11, Seems a little slow but is a great shape and looks to have set so fingers crossed   Wednesday, July 3 View Page Marrows are starting to vine   Wednesday, July 3 View Page Cucumbers are looking well   Wednesday, July 3 View Page Tomato plants are starting to move   Wednesday, July 3 View Page Cantelopes seem to be a bit slower   Wednesday, July 3 View Page I got some compost to try and keep the weeds down. It's crazy how fast they germinate in fine soil   Wednesday, July 3 View Page Runner beans are going   Wednesday, July 3 View Page Although it must have been too hot in here last weekend as some of the main tips gave up. Not too worried as these things will have no shortage of side vines   Wednesday, July 3 View Page I thought I had some nice rhubarb coming along   Wednesday, July 3 View Page Until a friend sent me this photo. I have some catching up to do   Monday, July 8 View Page All is coming along OK here, here is the 2433 plant   Monday, July 8 View Page 2433 pumpkin at day 20, Nice shape and colour.   Monday, July 8 View Page 2255 plant   Monday, July 8 View Page The 2255 at 23 DAP pumpkin has gone a little pear shaped, I have a back up going at 5 DAP which I'll keep going a little longer but I hope I can keep this one going   Monday, July 8 View Page 2166 plant   Monday, July 8 View Page The 2166 at day 16 pumpkin is looking OK now, I managed to get an OK angle on the stem so should be good but had to cut the blossum end off as it would not dry up. I just hope this will grow along without any more problems but I still have a back up pumpkin going at 7 DAP just in case   Monday, July 8 View Page 1867 plant   Monday, July 8 View Page 1867 pumpkin at 19 DAP. Needs to pick up the pace. I did attempt to pollenate another flower on this plant but I think it aborted   Tuesday, July 9 View Page Marrows are looking good.   Wednesday, July 10 View Page Cucumbers are looking great   Wednesday, July 10 View Page I think the tomato plants are looking OK too   Wednesday, July 10 View Page Happy with how these are looking. I'm spending about 4hrs a day in the patch at the moment and unfortunately haven't found the time to keep up with the runner beans (so many runners) Also the kondor potatoes are showing first signs of blight so I'm not expecting anything from these two classes unless I get a fluke.   Monday, July 15 View Page I think we're just about doing OK here, Here is the 2433 plant   Monday, July 15 View Page 2433 pumpkin which is taping around 250 lbs on day 27   Monday, July 15 View Page 2255 plant   Monday, July 15 View Page 2255 pumpkin is taping 220 lbs on day 30, Ive had better but I'm happy with how this one is coming along   Monday, July 15 View Page Had to cull the fruit on the 2166 plant as it wasn't developing properly and I was sure it would either split or abort on me further down the line. Sebastian paid me a visit at the weekend and he thought the same so we hacked it off   Monday, July 15 View Page Another photo   Monday, July 15 View Page 2166 plant   Monday, July 15 View Page The 2166 replacement which is at day 14 today. Unfortunately I think the pumpkin on the 1867 plant has stopped growing. With no back ups set on it yet its probably going to get pulled.   Thursday, July 18 View Page 2433 on day 30 tapes 352 lbs   Thursday, July 18 View Page The Marrows are doing OK on the whole   Thursday, July 18 View Page A couple of the plants are doing this again but that's just Marrows.   Thursday, July 18 View Page The tips kinda twist up. Got to be a little creative with these things some times and train the vines that are good to fill the gaps   Thursday, July 18 View Page The cucumbers are looking good   Monday, July 22 View Page 2433 day 34. Tapes 475 lbs and is my only chance of a pb this year.   Monday, July 22 View Page 2255 is at day 37 and tapes 360 lbs. This pumpkin has been gaining a steady 20 lbs a day for the past week. Not great gains but happy with this fruit, it started out a weird shape but has filled out nicely now. I will be glad to have this if I lose the 2433 pumpkin   Monday, July 22 View Page 2166 has been a bit of a disappointment, it was a great looking shape a couple of days ago but is now starting to look a little like the fruit I removed prior to this. I'm not sure this pumpkin is going to last.   Thursday, July 25 View Page On day 40 the 2255 tapes 434 lbs.   Sunday, July 28 View Page On day 40 the 2433 taped 687 lbs   Sunday, July 28 View Page Since most of you other marrow growers aren't really sharing any photos of your plants on here I've decided to do the same, let's just say my plants are in better shape than they were this time last year.   Sunday, July 28 View Page Cucumbers are looking great still   Sunday, July 28 View Page I did manage to get things sorted with the runner beans in the end. Not sure how these are going to do or if they will come too early for the show but time will tell   Sunday, July 28 View Page Big leaves for runner beans?   Wednesday, July 31 View Page 2166 tapes 339 lbs on day 30 although I'm not sure how accurate that is given the shape.   Wednesday, July 31 View Page Had a bit of a split open up on the 2166 a few days ago but it seems to have dried up for now   Wednesday, July 31 View Page 2166 and plant   Wednesday, July 31 View Page 2255 eddie pumpkin and its plant, pumpkin is taping 540 lbs today which is day 47 I think.   Wednesday, July 31 View Page And looking from the other end we have the 2433 paton which taped 740 lbs yesterday.   Monday, August 5 View Page Well I guess it's not going to be a pumpkin year for me as everything is slowing down here way faster than I expected. On day 48 the 2433 is taping 840 lbs   Monday, August 5 View Page On day 51 it seems as though the 2255 is hardly moving at 599 lbs   Monday, August 5 View Page The 2166 is 475 lbs on day 35   Monday, August 5 View Page The splits have dried up nicely   Monday, August 5 View Page Although we now have two more appeared around the stem, they don't appear to be in to the cavity yet which is something I guess!   Monday, August 5 View Page All is not bad news though as the Marrows and cucumbers are now on there way   Thursday, August 15 View Page The pumpkins are still gaining steadily here, The 2433 is close to 1000 lbs now and the 2255 and 2166 are both about 700 lbs ish.   Thursday, August 15 View Page I've got all 10 Marrows pollinated now but I'm not sure about some of the shapes of them!   Thursday, August 15 View Page I'm still happy with the progress of the cucumbers   Saturday, August 17 View Page My runner bean jungle   Saturday, August 17 View Page Pollenation of the beans has been poor but I'll have enough sets hopefully. This one is at about 2ft long and still growing. Maybe too early but I have later sets to follow   Saturday, August 17 View Page I'm still loving the cucumbers, will soon need to fix up some sort of support for these   Saturday, August 17 View Page Plants remain healthy so far. The tomatoes and cantelopes aren't doing so well (my inexperience) so no pics of them. Will be back with a new plan with these for next year ;)   Saturday, August 24 View Page The pumpkins are still gaining very slowly, I must be honest I haven't given the plants my best attention over the last month but we still have three pumpkins. I've had a lot of trouble with black and green flies this year I have sprayed a couple of times but they come back. I'm just going to leave them to suck now as things wind down.   Saturday, August 24 View Page The paton 2433 tapes 1035 lbs   Saturday, August 24 View Page The 2255 tapes 741 lbs, not bad for a plant that's close to 1000 sq ft lol.   Saturday, August 24 View Page The 2166 has been the biggest surprise, this plant was the smallest less vigorous of the three and despite being stuck out on the end of the main vine its 870 lbs.   Saturday, August 24 View Page I think having this one on the end of the vine worked well given how short the stem on the pumpkin is   Saturday, August 24 View Page My best cucumber is around 21 dap and measures 24 inches long and 14.5 inches around. I don't even know if that's good or bad but I'm happy regardless   Thursday, August 29 View Page Lost my first marrow on a 220 to a stem split. Will leave it on the vine for a while longer just to see how big it gets. Overall I think weights will be down as the weather hasn't been ideal and with mildew coming earlier this time its been a tough year.   Thursday, August 29 View Page Cucumbers are still growing. Best one is now 27 inches long and 17 inches around the waist and just showing first signs of ripening. Pumpkins aren't growing much although they are still growing which at least tells me they are still healthy, yesterday they taped 2433 - 1060 lbs 2166 - 923 lbs 2255 - 769 lbs.   Sunday, September 1 View Page Lost a second marrow on a 165 plant (my best one) blossom split this time.   Monday, September 2 View Page Lost a third marrow, this time to a dill ring. I saw this one coming lol   Monday, September 2 View Page The sheet on my large tunnel is really giving its notice, the plastic is going on the hoops in four different areas now. Will be removed at the end of the season.   Friday, September 6 View Page I managed to break it in half before I got it on the scales but the first marrow that split was 180 lbs. We had a dill ring split as well as the stem split. Very pleased with this weight even though damaged. I haven't had any more go down to splits yet.   Friday, September 6 View Page The 2255 has never been a mover but its plodded its way to 800 lbs and is probably the best looking orange pumpkin I've grown. The 2166 is about 1000 lbs and 2433 1070 ish. It's been fun having pumpkins growing in the garden again even though my weights seem to be going backwards rather than forwards in recent years.   Sunday, September 8 View Page Had a nice visit from Gary heeks and Carl lamborne today and they helped me to weigh the third marrow I lost which was 150 lbs. They thought it would be funny to crouch down a bit to make the marrow appear larger. Stem splits and multiple dill rings on this one was never going to make it   Sunday, September 8 View Page The second marrow that split is still in the patch, I'm not sure about this. Although it's split very deep there is no split that visibly runs inside so I'm leaving it for now. I haven't lost anymore yet but still a long way to go yet.   Tuesday, September 10 View Page Best cucumber is just about done now, it's 30 inches long and 19.5 inches around the mid section. All my cucumbers this year seem to be 'heavies' with the longest at 31 inches and all of them fairly thick.   Tuesday, September 10 View Page Happy with how the beans have done for a first attempt, have several 28 - 30 inches not expecting to improve on this.   Sunday, September 15 View Page Lost a forth marrow last Friday to a stem split, Not weighed it yet but we must be knocking on the door of 200 lbs with this one. This time last year I removed my remaining Marrows for fear of losing them to splits. It didn't work as I lost the 220 lbs before the show to rot and the 173 and 172 lost weight (cost me a UK record). So not cutting anything just yet.   Friday, September 20 View Page Oh dear some of the runner beans are starting to dry out. May not have a 30 inch bean for the show after all lol   Saturday, September 21 View Page Weeded out the two split marrows this afternoon, 196 Baggs 19 (165 Baggs x 220 Baggs) Splits at both ends.   Saturday, September 21 View Page 217 Baggs 19 (220 Baggs x 165 Baggs) Stem split. Will try to take seeds from these two but expect them to be thin. Going to be a tense run up to the shows with my last Marrows as the weather is supposed to be wet this coming week, would like to try and save my best one for Southampton but that may change depending on what I lose between now and next Friday.   Sunday, September 22 View Page Oh bugger, went to load the 2166 in preparation for Malvern next Friday as won't get time during the week but found this soft spot underneath. The 2255 will now take his place.   Monday, September 23 View Page Urgh.....   Saturday, September 28 View Page Well after another difficult year with splits I was l left with one marrow which I thought may challenge the WR. I wanted to leave it for the gpc weigh off really but being down to my last big one I didn't want to take the risk leaving it any longer. 90.2 kg 198.8 Baggs 19 (220x165) new UK record. So looks like I'll be doing it all over again next year.   Saturday, September 28 View Page Here's a nice photo of dad and mum with the marrow. After weighing the 217 Dmg in the patch on the bathroom scales I was convinced this one was just as heavy but obviously not. Oh well I'll keep trying lol   Sunday, September 29 View Page Didn't do too bad at Malvern, 1st with the 2255 pumpkin which weighed 416.2 kg - 917.5 lbs. Only taped 800 lbs. Thanks to Chris Lyons for hooking me up with this seed.   Sunday, September 29 View Page Especially happy with my best cucumber which took first place in the heavy class at 11.9 kg or just over 26 lbs. Was a first attempt so didn't expect to win.   Sunday, September 29 View Page Also took sixth in the long class at 811 mm, However this one was more of a heavy, I actually put it on the scale after the show and it was 11.55 kgs or 25.4 lbs.   Monday, September 30 View Page Here's a better picture of the cucumbers with my little Luke. Both came off David Thomas heavy cucumber which he exhibited at Malvern last year so a big thank you to him.   Monday, September 30 View Page Also took a third for the runner bean at 30.7 inches. Thank you to Patrick Schenk for the seed   Monday, September 30 View Page Thank you to Gary and Sebastian for giving the marrow a ride home.   Thursday, October 10 View Page 181 lbs dmg marrow. This one split at the stem a couple of weeks ago, I was going to take it along to the gpc weigh off for exhibition but it started rotting. All of the remaining Marrows have been in the shed for a week.   Thursday, October 10 View Page The foliage isn't too pretty but I have several heavy cucumbers still hanging. Will take a couple more off to weigh/exhibit at the gpc event Saturday.   Sunday, October 13 View Page We went to the xpg weigh off yesterday, the weather was the worst we have had at this event but the show of pumpkins was fantastic.   Sunday, October 13 View Page Another angle   Sunday, October 13 View Page I took along my uk record marrow just for exhibition along with my next largest sound marrow.   Sunday, October 13 View Page My marrow weighed 167.8 lbs. Cross was 165x220   Sunday, October 13 View Page My 2433 pumpkin came in at 1021.6 Taped about 1100 lbs ish so a little light and came in at 4th place. The competition here with pumpkins is getting too strong for me so I'll likely be heading back in to 'pumpkin retirement' next year ;) . Big well done to everyone who brought a pumpkin.   Sunday, October 13 View Page Results   Sunday, October 13 View Page What a great showing, Ian and Stuarts 2183.9 pumpkin Alan and Dan's 181.9 UK record field pumpkin And my 198 UK record marrow   Sunday, October 13 View Page And one with the growers.   Sunday, October 13 View Page Back at home we weighed up the last two Marrows. This one is the 156 Baggs 19 (165x220)   Sunday, October 13 View Page And this year's baby of the patch 125 Baggs 19 (165x220)   Sunday, October 13 View Page Jack and Ellie extracting seeds from the 156.   Monday, October 21 View Page OK I forgot to take any cucumbers to the xpg weigh off. Here are all of my cucumbers for this year. Only the two biggest were weighed officially the rest are unofficial. The initials represent what seed they grew from, TH = Thomas heavy and the rest isn't to difficult to work out.   Monday, October 21 View Page Aparrently my uk record marrow got beaten last weekend by the fortey brothers, unfortunately they didn't bring it to our gpc event but decided to weigh up in some dusty old farm shed (maybe I should have tried this last year)   Monday, October 21 View Page This is the new UK record 92.5 kg   Monday, October 21 View Page This is my former UK record (look at the foot)   Monday, October 21 View Page This is the scale. (supposed to be 92.5 kg)   Monday, October 21 View Page Another picture   Monday, October 21 View Page One of mine 181 lbs (yes it is maybe 3 inches ff the floor)   Tuesday, October 22 View Page Big congrats guys yours must be a lot denser than mine. Really motivated to get this back next year ;). Here is the 198 marrow cut open, really pleased with this, not one internal flaw apart from the ones I made myself. A good seed for next year hopefully.   Wednesday, December 4 View Page A few pictures to conclude my season, This was my heaviest (unnoficial) marrow this year. 217 lbs dmg. The 198 UK record marrow looked about the same size so either this one was denser or my scales weren't accurate.   Wednesday, December 4 View Page Here's another photo of my little man and my 198   Wednesday, December 4 View Page My three kids and the 198   Wednesday, December 4 View Page I tested my seeds for germination, the 198, 181, 167, 156 and 125 all germinated at 100%. I had a feeling the 217 and 196 might be a little weaker as the Marrows were not fully mature when they split however after three days I had five out of nine pop up from the 217, the other four I dug up and removed the seed coats and replanted and after another couple of days they started to grow. With the 196 I had five out of nine pop up in three days and the other four went rotten. So to who it may concern expect 50/50 germination from these.   Wednesday, December 4 View Page Although coming up just short I didn't have a bad season really, I managed to save seed from seven different Marrows and make some nice crosses for next year.   Tuesday, December 17 View Page Still haven't quite finished patch prep for winter yet due to short days and bad weather but at least the cover is off now. Thinking it will do my soil some good to leave it open to the weather.   Sunday, December 29 View Page That'll keep the weeds down for a while